Rugby World Cup: Wallabies tap into tournament fever

AUSTRALIA got a belated dose of World Cup fever when they bussed into Cardiff for the captains run at Millennium Stadium overnight.

Members of Australia's rugby squad arrive to attend the captain's run at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales, on September 22, 2015, on the eve of their 2015 Rugby World Cup match against Fiji. AFP PHOTO / MARTIN BUREAU RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

THE bright yellow bus made it hard to stay under the radar but the Wallabies say they’re pleased to be on the verge of their opening World Cup game after finally arriving in Wales overnight.

Australia will kick off their campaign to bring Bill home a third time when they meet Fiji at Millennium Stadium early on Thursday morning (AEST), and they got a belated dose of World Cup fever when they bussed into Cardiff for the captains run.

Australia have been based in tranquil Bath for nine days and been somewhat hidden away from the atmosphere buzzing around other parts of England and the UK.

But with Cardiff streets bearing World Cup flags and banners and yellow Australian jerseys and scarfs also seen in numbers, the Wallabies finally tapped into the excitement of the tournament ahead of the Fiji clash.

“The bus trip to the training session felt almost game day like, there were people waving and stuff like that,” reserve back Matt Toomua said.

“I guess it is easier when you have a bright yellow bus, driving through Cardiff. We are well and truly ready to get going.

“You watch a few games and you want to be a part of it now. It has been good to be removed from it because we know the hype will come. But it has been great and guys are really raring to go now.”

The Wallabies arrive to attend the captain's run at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Asked if felt the Wallabies had been too secluded and may lack an edge early against a Pacific Island team playing their second game, Toomua said: “No, the edge will be there.”

“Training has been very competitive,” he continued.

“We have still been doing a lot of work, it’s not like we have just been chilling. The pressure and that stuff will come as we get into the tournament so to distance yourself from it early is probably a good thing.”

The Wallabies’ delayed start has allowed them, at least, to get a good gauge on what it will take to beat Fiji in their first clash with the world no. 9 side since 2010.

They won comfortably that night but Fiji showed in a gallant loss to England in the World Cup opener that they’re a much stronger team now.

Toomua said it has been evident in all the matches of the World Cup on the first weekend that most of the teams at the tournament were not only improved, but rising to the occasion of playing in rugby’s showpiece tournament.

“It’s just the standard … you watch some of those games, such as New Zealand-Argentina and they’ve played each other once or twice this year and that game, by far, was definitely the highest standard,” Toomua said.

“There’s more to play for. It’s the big stage. A lot of teams start rising.”

With games staying tighter for longer, bench impact is also continuing to prove important. As it was in the Rugby Championship, Toomua’s role as the roving playmaker from the bench is set to be crucial. Sam Burgess and Sonny Bill Williams both turned in strong, direct performances off the bench to help secure victory for England and New Zealand.

“You saw a lot of the games at the weekend they were a genuine contest for a lot of the games, obviously headlined by Japan but also Argentina, and you saw guys like Sonny Bill and other inside backs coming on and changing that and it was like that across the board,” Toomua said.

“It will be no different for us. The last 15-25 minutes are really your championship minutes, and a lot of the bench is usually on then.

“I have played a lot more on the bench now and realised I legitimately play 10 or 12, and hopefully add a bit of spark later in the game. I have managed to do that at times, and hope to continue it I guess.”

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Wallabies tap into tournament fever